Page 66 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

Tessa grew serious. “I do think you will make someone a good husband one day, my lord. Just not me.”

His heart sank at her words. He had already kissed her twice—and it had felt as if the heavens had moved.

What would it take to win this woman’s heart?

“I agree that I will make a fine husband. You should continue to consider yourself in the running to become my countess.”

She stopped, allowing others to pass them. “Why? Why are you so insistent on the two of us being matched?”

He thought a long moment. “If I could answer that, I would. I won’t speak glibly to you, Tessa. I merely know that my heart has spoken to me. I think yours has also spoken to you but you aren’t listening to it at the moment.”

She looked at him triumphantly. “See, there you go again. Telling me what you think my heart is saying. You are quite presumptuous, Lord Middlefield. Overconfident. Smug. You think you know what is best for me whereas I believe that is a decision I alone should make.”

She began walking again.

Spencer said, “I wonder why you have such a skill in twisting my words? Until I met you, no one ever accused me of being arrogant or overbearing.”

“Because all of your friends are men,” she said quickly. “You haven’t been around many women, I’d venture. No sisters. No females at school, university, or in the army. As an officer, you were used to ordering people about, telling them what to do—and they did it. Polite Society is far different, my lord. Of course, not all the women you meet tonight or during the Season will express their opinions to you. I am fairly certain you can find any number of women to boss about. Ones who will obey you without question. Well, that isn’t me, Lord Middlefield. Papa raised me to have a mind of my own.”

“So, you will not be an obedient wife?” he challenged.

“No, I suspect I will,” she admitted. “But my husband and I will be so like-minded that it won’t seem as if I am obeying. Giving in to his whims. We will have mutual interests and mutual respect. I will want to please him. I assure you, we will get along famously.”

This time, he halted their progress. Glancing around, he saw they were alone, the others ahead of them out of hearing distance.

“I thought we got along famously when we kissed.”

Her cheeks heated with color. “You shouldn’t be mentioning that,” she said, flustered. “You definitely shouldn’t—”

“Shouldn’t what, Tessa? Kiss you again? Here?”

Her eyes widened as she blushed to her roots. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“No, I wouldn’t,” he agreed. “If we were seen, then it would be expected that we wed.”

Confusion filled her face. “But I thought you wanted to wed me.”

“I do. But I want you to come to me willingly, Tessa. To me—and my bed. I would never force your hand. I have enough self-discipline to keep from kissing you in public and forcing your hand. Barely.”

He knew he looked at her wolfishly and didn’t try to hide his attraction to her.

“I see.” She swallowed. “You are too blunt, Lord Middlefield. Your manners could use a bit of polish.”

“If you wed me, we could practice working on those manners, Tessa.”

“I have no intention of wedding you, my lord, but I will comment on your manners now. I am Lady Tessa. You are Lord Middlefield. That is—”

“My name is Spencer,” he interrupted, something he believed it important that she knew it. If she knew it, she might start thinking of him as Spencer and not the Earl of Middlefield.

Her lips parted as if she wished to say something further, then she clamped down as if afraid he might bend and kiss her.

“We should go find Adalyn,” she said firmly.

*

Tessa thought LordMiddlefield impossible.

And so devastatingly attractive.

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